Jackass 3D: 10 Things I Liked, 5 I Didn’t

If you are rabid fan of the disgusting, this was your weekend. Jackass 3D hit theaters and took depravity to a whole new dimension. Already flirting with box office records, albeit in extremely specific categories, it’s hard to deny Jackass 3D is a hit. As much as I want to denounce all the lowbrow shenanigans, Jackass came onto the scene at the perfect time to wedge a silly little place in my heart.

The show and the first movie came out when I was in high school; the second movie when I was in college. Though my tastes may have evolved since then, I wasn’t surprised to find 10 things I liked about Jackass 3D, and only 5 things I didn’t

10 Things I Liked

10. The 3D. Exploitative? Sure. But also well incorporated into the already over-the-top gimmicky fun that defines Jackass.

9. The Simple Gags. I like that despite the 3D, and the inherent temptation toward being therefore more grandiose, the boys still opt for the most simple of self-punishments from time to time. Everybody who attends a screening will probably shuffle out exchanging monosyllabic reactions to the elaborate port-o-potty stunt, but my favorite of the entire movie is the yoga ball slingshot into a man’s face. Brevity is the soul of wit…and slapstick apparently.

8. Lack of pretense. Say what you want about these dunderheads, they have never lost sight of the baser entertainment value of what they do. At no point does any member of the cast try and sell anything but pure, juvenile joy. In fact, their unwavering enthusiasm for their own stupidity is what makes this franchise work.

7. Johnny Knoxville. Johnny is poised, witty, and somehow manages to pull charming out of his ass while a doctor is busy repairing it after the bull attack.

6. The Opening. Brutal, hilarious, and featuring some pretty stellar cinematography, the opening of this film sets the stage for the high-quality brainlessness to follow.

5. Pontius. Though one of the least compensated cast members, if the rumors are to be believed, Chris Pontius, alias Party Boy, is absolutely the most intense. His almost manic love of what these guys do is heart-warming, if often stomach-turning.

4. The Soundtrack. If you’ve seen a single episode of the show, you know how well Jackass pairs punk rock and otherwise esoteric tunes with the lunacy on screen. Weezer’s “Memories” at the end of the film and Roger Miller’s “You Can’t Rollerskate in a Buffalo Heard” as Knoxville attempts to rollerskate in buffalo heard deserve specific spotlights.

3. The Ending. I have to admit I was a bit choked up by the touching tribute to their roots, even if they were just as dumb then as they are now. Again, the Weezer song makes the moment.

2. The High Five. Clever, a great demonstration of rudimentary physics, and I don’t think I laughed harder at any moment of the film.

1. Steve-O’s Balls. I mean that in the sense of his courage and not in terms of the gratuitous male nudity throughout the–we’ll get there. Say whatever you will about the intellectual fortitude of one Mr. Steve-O, I am constantly amazed by his bravery. The beehive tether ball is a feat of warped manhood to which I can only aspire.

5 Things I Didn’t Like

5. The Amount of Dick. I don’t mean to sound prudish, but Jesus H. Christ there is a lot of male nudity in this film. While you almost have to respect this level of bodily self-confidence, I’m fairly certain gay porn has less shlong than Jackass 3D.

4. The Port-o-Potty. While this will probably be the stunt everyone talks about, I was wholly unimpressed. Nothing more than an elaborate setup for yet another Steve-O-covered-in-poo gag, the stronger choice would have been to seal the portable toilet and let him bounce around in it while in mid-air.

3. The Audience. As Jackass‘ inception coincided with my discovery of alcohol, I harbor and unhealthily positive association with it that has evolved into fandom. So on that level, I am not claiming to be better than the younger fans. But listening to the crowds cheer at the pain of the cast members and actually boo when they didn’t throw Bam into the snake pit a second time despite his near panic attack, I felt like I was in the Roman Colosseum. I weep for the future.

1. Sean William Scott. Sure to go down as the most wasted cameo of all time, I don’t understand why he’s in this. When he showed up, as someone who genuinely likes Sean, I was excited. But then his segment ends without his uttering a single word. Wow, great job guys.

Brian Salisbury has been a film critic and internet gadfly for six years. He is the co-host of FSR's Junkfood Cinema podcast and the co-founder of OneOfUs.Net. Brian is a cult film and exploitation buff who loves everything from Charlie Chaplin to Charlie Bronson.

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